A daily intelligence report; in chaotic times and famine years, grain is plentiful.

"Brother Mang, this place is very big, and it can't be burned all at once. I prepared some dry grass in advance. After we've spread this area out, we'll burn it all down."

Zhang Yan suggested.

"Okay, hurry up."

Wang Mang couldn't wait any longer.

"Okay, but Brother Mang, put out the torches first. There are men Chen Mo sent patrolling the mountains ahead, and we might be discovered."

Zhang Yan reminded him.

"That Chen Mo is indeed cunning."

Wang Mang was well aware of Chen Mo's caution, so he immediately ordered the torches to be extinguished.

A moment later, everything went black.

Only by the moonlight could I barely see the road ahead.

"Everyone, come and help."

Zhang Yan said in a low voice.

"You all go."

Wang Mang gave instructions to his men.

Subsequently, the Zhang brothers, along with Wang Mang's men, began to lay dry grass in the valley.

"Good heavens, he actually managed to create such a large area. Chen Mo must have a lot of grain hidden at home."

Looking at the vast expanse of land before him, Wang Mang couldn't help but murmur to himself.

Recalling the many times he had failed to find his food supplies, he felt even more resentful.

Once his fields are burned down, we'll loot all his stored grain tomorrow!

As Wang Mang thought about it, a smug smile appeared on his face.

"Brother Mang, it's all done, we can set the fire now."

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Yan finally returned with his men.

"Bring the torch over."

Wang Mang was issuing another order.

Then, the torches were lit.

"Brother Mang, can we go now?"

Zhang Yan asked nervously.

"Get out of here now. Don't tell anyone what happened today, or you'll know what happens next."

Wang Mang threatened.

"Understood, I'll keep it a secret." Zhang Yan looked flustered. "Was what Brother Mang said before true?"

"What?"

Wang Mang, holding a torch, was already getting impatient.

"It's about the debt."

Zhang Yan said uneasily.

"Okay, get out of here."

Wang Mang gave a perfunctory reply.

Zhang Yan knew the other party wouldn't be so easy to talk to, so he didn't say anything more and quickly left the place with his younger brother Zhang Shi.

After the Zhang brothers left, Wang Mang threw the torch he was holding onto the haystack.

The next moment, flames burst into flames before their eyes.

"Get away quickly."

Wang Mang quickly turned around and moved away from the area.

Before long, the fire in the valley spread rapidly.

Fueled by the wind, the fire burned ever brighter.

With the help of dry grass, a sea of ​​fire had already broken out in front of them.

The flames shot up several meters high, even igniting the trees in the valley. In an instant, the raging fire illuminated the entire valley.

"Good, well cooked!"

Wang Mang stood at a distance, watching the fire spread. He felt no fear, but rather a sense of satisfaction after his revenge.

"Chen Mo, let's see how you turn the tables this time!"

In Wang Mang's view, as long as all the fields in front of him were burned down and the crops were gone, Chen Mo would definitely not be able to answer to Zhao, the military officer.

"Brother Mang, the fire is getting bigger and bigger, let's get out of here or it'll burn us."

Zhao Si, standing to the side, said that he was rather timid and was just afraid of being discovered by others.

After all, arson is a serious crime.

Wang Mang was aware of this as well. He not only wanted to burn down the fields that Chen Mo had cultivated, but also wanted to pin the blame for arson on Chen Mo.

Not only will he be unable to hand over the grain, but he will also be arrested and imprisoned by the government.

When that time comes, the villagers will have no way to make a living and will still have to rely on the Wang family for food.

As for that brat Chen Mo, he can just wait to die.

"Brother Mang's move was brilliant. With this fire, Chen Mo's hard work is gone, and those ignorant villagers will definitely have to come begging to the Wang family."

Zhao Si, standing beside him, fawned, and the other subordinates echoed him, each with a gloating expression on their face.

"That's natural."

Wang Mang smiled smugly.

The group chatted and laughed as they walked along the mountain path, completely oblivious to the raging fire in the distance.

In their view, Black Wind Ridge was such a remote place, and it was the middle of the night, that no one could possibly find them.

Anyway, they don't rely on Black Wind Ridge for their livelihood, so even if the entire forest is burned down, it has nothing to do with them.

Even if someone investigates afterward, they will only suspect the villagers who frequently go up the mountain to clear land.

Just as they were talking and laughing, they suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats.

The smiles on Wang Mang and the others' faces froze instantly, and they were so frightened that they quickly hid in the bushes nearby.

"Is there anyone still on the mountain so late?"

Zhao Si said nervously.

Moreover, the sound of those hooves didn't sound like that of an ordinary person.

Before long, several lights suddenly appeared in the darkness.

Immediately afterwards, several government soldiers carrying spears rode out and charged straight to Wang Mang's group.

"come out!"

The leading officer shouted.

Wang Mang and his men were immediately startled and dared not move.

"If you don't show up soon, we're going to take action."

The cavalryman shouted again.

"No, no, no, don't do it! I'm from the Wang family!"

Wang Mang rushed out of the bushes and raised his hands to beg for mercy.

He could tell that these government troops were not just talking big, but no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand how government cavalry could appear in such a place.

The leading officer reined in his horse and, by the firelight, looked at Wang Mang and his men.

"You audacious scoundrel! How dare you set the mountain on fire! Seize him!"

The officer shouted, and the soldiers behind him swarmed forward.

Seeing that the government troops were serious, Wang Mang and his men panicked and dared not resist at all.

"Sir, it's all a misunderstanding!" Wang Mang quickly knelt down on the ground and said, "I am the son of Wang Laoqi from the Wang family in Shannan Town. I was just hunting in the mountains and had no idea about arson."

"Yes, sir, spare our lives! We wouldn't dare set fire to anything even if we had a hundred lives!"

The other subordinates also knelt down and begged for mercy, each one trembling with fear.

The officer sneered, "Hunting? What kind of hunting is this in the middle of the night? Don't you know this is farmland cultivated by the government troops? How dare you set it on fire!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Mang's mind went completely blank.

Fields reclaimed by government troops?

How is that possible?

He had never heard of this at all.

Could it be... that Chen Mo really has government troops backing him up?

"Soldiers, please don't lay a hand on me! I'm Wang Laoqi's son. If you don't believe me, ask General Zhao. We're law-abiding citizens; how could we possibly do such a thing?"

Wang Mang remained stubborn.

As long as they can stall for time, his father will surely be able to find a way.

But the government troops in front of him gave him no chance to argue, and shouted again, "Men, arrest them all and take them back to the camp to be dealt with by the general."

Although Wang Mang was somewhat flustered, he quickly realized that his family had connections in the town, and as long as there was no substantial evidence, the other party could not possibly accuse him of setting the fire.

After all, the last time he was captured, Zhao, the military officer, released him in less than half a day.

This time, it will definitely be the same.

Moreover, the fire had already spread completely, and Chen Mo's fields were almost completely destroyed.

Even if he is temporarily imprisoned, Chen Moqiu will definitely not be able to gather enough grain before the harvest, and then Zhao Canjiang will still punish him!